Method of knitting garments



April 3, 1956 Filed May- 26, 1955 H. G. LAcKs METHOD OF KNITTING GARMENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR:

BY mww% April 3, 1956 H. e. LACKS METHOD OF KNITTING GARMENTS Filed May- 26, 1955 IN V EN TOR: MQM

BYW

April 3, 1956 H. G. LAC KS 2,740,275

METHOD OF KNITTING GARMENTS Filed May- 26, 1955 :5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

United rates Patent" METHODIOF'KNI'ITING GARMENTS Harold 'G. Lacks,.New York,,N.' Y. A lication-May 26, 1955,.Seriat N 51141-93 S CIairnsP (Cl-.6694?) My invention relates tothe art ofknittingand, more specifically, to knitting: on circular; reciprocatingly operable knitting machines.

Objects'of my invention are to produce -inlaid knittings, that isknittings-in which inlay threads are embedded, by reciprocating movement of lacircularknitting machine in a quick, efficient and accurate mannen to use the movemerit oflthe' machine in both directions fo'r'laying inlay threads and for engaging: the same by knitting threads,

to use elastic rubber threads for the inlay, and therebyto pro'ducca highlystretchable knittingi- Other objects are to arrange the feed for the knitting threadso that it follows the-'feedof the inlaythread during the machines movement in either direction whereby the following knitting thread canengagethe'laid inlay thread during 'the same'swing'of the machine and ineither direction, and the inlay thread is embedded immediately after being laid, thereby to-avoid any possibility of misplacement of the-inlay thread before it is embedded; and thereby to secure-a product of uniform accuracy and free of wrinkles.-

Further' objects are to make possible the production of an inlaid knittinginwhich elastic inlaythreadsextend over the entire width, and thereby to'produce a product which ishighly stretchable over its entirewidth.

Still other objects are tomake possible a continuous knitting with a single inlay thread and witha single pended claims and from the accompanying drawing in I which Fig. 1 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of.

a device for carrying out my invention.

Fig. 2' shows a side view of a portion of the same device, seen in the direction of the arrow 2 in- Fig. 1.

Fig, 3 shows a sideview of another portion of the same device, seen in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the same device.

Figs. 5 to show diagrammatically simplified top views of the same device, represented on a smallersscaleand showing six different phases of a knitting cycle made accdrding to my invention.

My method comprises the feeding of an inlay thread, preferably of an elastic rubber thread, and of a knitting thread at reciprocatingly turning feed points which are, at least temporarily, shiftable-relativelyto each other so 2,740,275 Patented Apr. 3, 1956 ice that the knitting feed can by-pass the inlay feed; and can follow the inlay feed in both turning= directions." Amore complete-description of themethod according to my invention will be given later with reference 'to'the shown device. However, it should" be-not'edthat' this device is only/a preferred means for carrying out my-invention and that obviously the inventive method'can be carried 'out with various other means; For example, it is not indispensable thattthe k nitting feed follows the-inlay feed* at. the same turning speed -as-=in the shown exemplifying embodiment, but the m'ovements of the twofeed's'may' be co-ordinatcdin other manner and by other means" than' in this embodiment:

Referring 'to' the drawings, numeral 4 indicates'a rotat-J able and reciprocatable body'which-may be a partofa' circular knitting machineof known structure andcomprises interconnected rings extending" about a common" verticalaxis. Tlie=uppermost of 'these 'rings indicatedby 5 surrounds the circularly arranged andvertically'rnov able needles ofthe'machine; These needles-and other" well known parts ofthernachinearenotsh'ownin' the drawings. The ring=5 isspaced'by a gap from thel'ower ring 6 of the body 4 and' is connected withpthe latter by one or morebr-ackets7. A stationary'ring's forms. apart of'th'e machine-andsurroun'dsthe rotatable body 4. 1

An'eyel'e't 9 is afiixe'd -to the ring 5 by a wire 11 which: isso bent that the eyelet 9 is-positioned closeto the outside of the ring A knitting thread 12 of. any suie able and known type is 'supplied'tothe eyelet'9in known. manner and is fed to the n e'edles which, hence, determines-the position of the feed of the knitting thread; The-"ring'5 mayhave"a"recess13. for friction-free passage *ofthe thread 12.

A guide rail 14 forms asegment of a ring extending concentrically with thebody'4 at a distance from the outside of the ring 65' Theends-of this sector have about. radial extensions IS afliXed to thisring; Ablock 16 has. a channel through which the guide 14 passes slid'ably so 'that' the block can-shift on the guide'from' one end l5 to the-other.' In additionto this channel, the-bIock 16h'as another, radial channel through which aradially" extending bar 17 passes sli'clably; A tubular piece 18' forms the most central end ofthe bar*l7"and reaches under the lower outer edgeofthe ring 5. The lower surface of the :bar '17" may slidably'contact the ring 6". The: bars 17 is urged'into its innermost positions bya spring19 connecting a pin' 21 afiixed'to the block 16 and a pin 22 affixed to thebar17';

An inlay'thread:23 is fed through the bore of the'piecc 18'v whereby this piece determines the position of'the" inlay feed. The thread 23: is' supplied in well known manneuto'the piece-13, preferably through an eyelet'24- positioned over the block 16 and affixed to the sameby a wire 25.

The inlay feed 18 and: the block 16-rotate reciprocatingly together with the guide 14 and the body 4 as-long asthe block is not prevented from further rotation and thereby is forced to let the. guide 14 slide through its channel inthe block. This'occurs when the block hits one. oftwo'stops Ztiwhich are positioned in'the rotarypath of the. block and limit its movement in both rotary directions. The: amount of this limitation is defined byihe angular-distanceof the stops which issmallerthan the arc corresponding to the total rotationof the body '4.

Each stopt26 is formed by a bolt which has a head facing thepath'of the block ltiand which passes slid ably through. a: bore of:a stationary bracket 27. A spring" ZS-urgesv the stopnbolt; 26 towardthe block, but allows some resilient movement: in. the -direction. against this urge. The'bracketi27 is afiixed to. a .piecea29 whichhasrt:

a downward'extensionrifl .afi'ixeditothe stationary ring;- ;8.

through .this eyelet" siliency of the stop has several advantages.

. the guide takes part in the clockwise movement.

Preferably, means are provided for withdrawing the bar 17 with the feed 18 radially outward temporarily when the block is in one of its extreme positions. These means may comprise a pin 32 affixed to the bar 17 and.

recesses in the stationary pieces 29 which have oblique walls 33 urging the pin 32 outward whenthis pin enters one of these recesses;

The operation is as follows:

In the phase shown in Fig. 1, the feed 9 and the guide 14 with the block 16, the bar 17 and the feed 18 rotate together in the counter-clockwise direction of the arrow 34. The block 16 is adjacent to the right guide extension 15. The knitting feed 9 follows the inlay feed 18 at an angular distance which is only a small fraction of the total rotation. The knitting'thread fed through the feed 9 engages the inlay thread fed through the feed 18 in known manner whereby the inlay thread is embedded in the knitting immediately after having been laid.

When the block 16 reaches the position shown in Fig. l in dotted lines, it contacts one of the stops 26 and is stopped after a small compression of the stop spring 28. At the same time, the pin 32 has entered the recess in the piece 29, as shown in dotted lines, and moves along the wall 33 whereby the bar 17 is shifted radially outward and the inlayfeed 18 is Withdrawn from its feeding position nearest to the needle circle.

Fig. diagrammatically shows the phase in which the block 16 has just come into contact with the stop 26. The inlay feed 18 is not yet withdrawn. The knitting feed 9 moves toward the stopped inlay feed. In this and the following Figs. 6 to 10, the feeds are indicated by little circles, and the threads by radial lines showing the angular positions of the feeds.

Then the knitting feed 9, continuing moving in counterclockwise direction, approaches the stopped inlay feed 18 while the knitting thread continues engaging and embedding the inlay thread. Then the knitting feed moves beyond the inlay feed. Fig. 6 shows the phase in which the kniting feed has just by-passed the stopped and withdrawn inlay feed. The entire extension of the inlay thread is now engaged by knitting. The mesh-forming knitting may end here whereby the width of the knitted product is equal to the length of the inlay thread. Or the knitting may continue if it is desired to provide the product with a non-stretchable margin extending aside of the elastic width of the product.

While the knitting feed moves relatively to the inlay feed, the guide 14 slides through the channelled block 16. The length of the guide is preferably so dimensioned that the other extension 15 of the guide contacts the block r 16 at about the end of the counter-clockwise movement. This contact may occur slightly before the end of this movement whereby the stop 26 is again slightly shifted against the pressure of the spring 28. Hence, the re- It softens the impact of the block at the first contact between block and stop, it allows movement of the guide exactly to the end of the machines movement and it softens and facilitates the reversal of this movement. 7

The now returning movement of the machine reverses the movement of the knitting feed into clockwise direction. In the latter direction, the block 16 is not stopped. Hence, the block together with the inlay feed and with Fig. 7 shows a phase shortly after reversal of the rotation of the device. The knitting feed follows the inlay feed now in clockwise direction.

The knitting is resumed as soon as the knittingfeed reaches again the angular position in which the meshtorming knitting ceased during the counter-clockwise movement. 1 In the phase shown in Fig. 8, the device is in the middle of its clockwise swing, the inlay thread being engaged by the following knitting thread. The inlay feed has the same position as in Fig. I, but is followed A half cycle in which the knitting feed has just by-passed the inlay feed in clockwise direction.

In the phase shown in Fig. 10, thefmachine has completed its clockwise turn and is just reversing its movement again into counter-clockwise direction. Then, moving in the latter direction, the device reaches the position shown in Fig. 1. A full cycle has been completed, and two rows of inlaid knitting have been made, one row in counter-clockwise and one row in clockwise direction.

Continued operation produces further rows of inlaid knitting in the same manner. The inlay thread forms a coherent zig-zig line embedded in a coherent knitting thread. The knitting needles may be operated. in any known and suitable manner, for example so that loops are formed at the ends of the rows whereby the product can be united withanother knitting on a looping machine.

I desire it understood that my invention is not confined to the particular manner of operation and to the particular embodiment shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that my invention may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention as it is obvious that the particular manner of operation and embodiment shown and described, are onlyexamples of the many ways and means that may be employed to attain the objects of my invention.

For example, while the specification refers to a knitting machine in which the needles do not rotate (a type of circular knitting machine called revolving cam block machine), my invention may be as wellapplied to a knitting machine of the revolving cylinder type in which the needles rotate and are operated by astationary cam block. 1 In this case, the body 4 with the parts affixed to the same and the ring 8 with the'parts atfixed to the latter must exchange their movability, that is, the body 4 must now be stationary, whilethe ring 8 rotates reciprocatingly. This mechanical reversal results in the same relative movements of all parts and produces the same effect. I desire it understood, that my claims cover also such a mechanical reversal, and that the movements described in this specification and defined in the appended claims should be regarded rather relatively than absolutely.

Having described the nature of my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A method of producing inlaid knittings; comprising feeding an inlay thread and a knitting thread, each through a separate feed, to a reciprocating circular knitting machine; moving both feeds simultaneously in the same turning direction, theknitting feed following the inlay feed, and the knitting thread engaging the inlay thread; then stopping the movement of said inlay feed while the knitting thread, continues engaging the inlay thread as far as the latter is laid; continuing the movement of the knitting feed beyond the stopped inlay feed; then reversing the movement of the knitting'feed and starting the inlay feed in the direction of said reversed movement whereby both feeds move again simultaneously and the knitting feed again follows the inlay feed, and again engaging the inlay thread by the knitting thread.

2. A method of producing inlaid knittings, comprising feeding an elastic rubber inlay thread'and a knitting thread, each through a separate feed, to a reciprocating circular knitting machine; moving both feeds simultaneously in the same turning direction, the knitting feed following" the inlay feed, and the knitting thread engaging" the inlay thread; then stopping 'the-fr'novernentbf said the movement of the knitting feed beyond the stopped inlay feed; then reversing the movement of the knitting feed and starting the inlay feed in the direction of said reversed movement whereby both feeds move again simultaneously and the knitting feed again follows the inlay feed, and again engaging the inlay thread by the knitting thread.

3. A method or" producing inlaid knittings, comprising feeding an inlay thread and a knitting thread, each through a separate feed, to a reciprocating circular knitting chine; moving both feeds simultaneously in the same turning direction, the knitting feed following the inlay feed at the level of the same knitting row, and the knitting thread engaging the inlay thread; then stopping the movement of said inlay feed while the knitting thread continues engaging the inlay thread as far as the latter is laid; continuing the movement of the knitting feed beyond the stopped inlay feed; then reversing the movement of the knitting feed and starting the inlay feed in the direction of said reversed movement whereby both feeds move again simultaneously and the knitting feed again follows the inlay feed, and again engaging the inlay thread by the knitting thread.

4. A method of producing inlaid knittings, comprising feeding an inlay thread and a knitting thread, each through a separate feed, to a reciprocating circular knitting machine; moving both feeds simultaneously in the same turning direction, the knitting feed following the inlay feed at an angular distance which is only a small fraction of the total rotation of the machine, and the knitting thread engaging the inlay thread; then stopping the movement of said inlay feed while the knitting thread continues engaging the inlay thread as far as the latter is laid; continuing the movement of the knitting feed beyond the stopped inlay feed; then reversing the movement of the knitting feed and starting the inlay feed in the direction of said reversed movement whereby both feeds move again simultaneously and the knitting feed again follows the inlay feed, and again engaging the inlay thread by the knitting thread.

5. A method of producing inlaid knittings, comprising feeding an inlay thread and a knitting thread, each through a separate feed, to a reciprocating circular knitting machine; moving both feeds simultaneously in the same turning direction, the knitting feed following the inlay feed, and the knitting thread engaging the inlay thread; then stopping the movement of said inlay feed while the knitting thread continues engaging the inlay thread as far as the latter is laid, and withdrawing the inlay feed from its feeding position; continuing the movement of the knitting feed beyond the stopped inlay feed; then reversing the movement of the knitting feed, returning the inlay feed to its feeding position and starting the inlay feed in the direction of said reversed movement whereby ooth feeds move again simultaneously and the knitting feed again follows the inlay feed, and again engaging the inlay thread by the knitting thread.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

